Mr Cameron is expected to demand new powers for Britain within the EU if he remains in power following the general election next May.

But Mr Hollande will today remind Mr Cameron that any treaty change will require unanimous agreement of all EU countries, including France.

"There is no demonstration of the need for new rules and no urgency," added the source.

Senior Conservatives have blasted the French stance, with former defence secretary Liam Fox declaring that France is ignoring the need for change.

We will not pay an extra price to keep the UK in the EU

French government source

He told the newspaper: "The Prime Minister wants to get the best deal for Britain. To threaten to veto treaty change, before you know what the proposed change is going to be, is utterly symptomatic of how utterly out of touch the current European leaders are.

"They ignore the need for change, and plough on relentlessly towards their 1950s objective of ever-closer union. If they break, it is because they won’t bend."

If the Conservatives remain in power, Mr Cameron will be asked to make concrete proposals for treaty change at an EU summit in June next year.

France is opposed to any new treaty clause allowing countries to take separate approaches to the EU, and instead wants Brussels to take on more powers to regulate business taxes.

France also fears successful renegotiations would tempt Germany to push for new eurozone powers to dictate economic policy.